The shape of your roof does much to add to the visual appeal of your home. Roof shapes like those of Dutch Colonial homes are iconic and make them immediately recognizable. Beyond style, the shape of your roof has important structural functions.

Why is roof shape important?

Your home’s roof shape matters because it can increase or decrease its resistance to wind pressures and water damage.

This keeps the weather outside and your family safe. It also prevents additional structural failure. Think of your roof as the first domino in a sequence. 

If your roof shape allows too much wind to get under it, the change in your home’s internal pressure can pop the roof right off. With the roof gone, the water damage in your home will be much more extensive. Wind-blown debris also finds its way into your home more easily with your roof gone.

The best type of roof for hurricane weather

Given what’s at risk, you’ll want the roof that best protects against hurricane-force winds and wind-driven rain. Ideally, you’ll want a roof that provides the best combination of wind pressure and rain protection.

In a hurricane-prone region, your best bet is a pitched roof. You have two choices here: a gabled roof or a hip roof.

Gable and Hip Roofs

Gable roofs have two sides that meet at a point at the rooftop to form a triangle. They’re best in climates that have heavy rainfall. The steep pitch allows water to run off unobstructed. They are also budget-friendly and easy to build.

The downside here is that while they reduce rain damage, they are prone to wind pressure damage.

Hip roofs are also triangular but they are sloped on four sides as opposed to two. This means they have the water-resistance advantages of gable roofs. In addition to this, the four-sided design helps redistribute wind pressure across your roof, preventing a build-up that can become dangerous to your roof’s integrity.

You should note that hip roofs cost more to construct.

The recommended slope for your roof is 30 percent or 7/12. A lower slope subjects your roof to more damage from wind-driven rain, while a higher slope will cause uneven wind pressure to build up on your roof.

At 30 percent, you’ll be getting the best of both worlds – enhanced rain and wind protection.

Are you doing a home renovation and need some advice on a new roof? Why not talk to us? Call us at 1 305 925 0818.